how do you deal with roots when you home dye?

[HauntedLittleLunatic]

I have only just started home dying, using the treseme foam (i think).

How do I deal with root re-growth? There are some instructions for roots which basically involve application to roots leave it and then basically do whole head for a shorter time. Is this the right way? Is it necessary to cover whole head for small area?

I do what Tatty does, except I use professional products, as I find with my greys any chemist box formulation doesn't last until regrowth and fades from my temples in 3 weeks, not 5 weeks.

I use Majirel (I am a dark choc brown) 4 and mix in 4.35 in a ratio of tablespoon of 4 and a half tablespoon of 4.35. I use 9 percent volume peroxide as this is what you need to open up grey hair. A tablespoon and a half.

I mix in a hairdressers' dye bowl with a tinting brush and apply very carefully to the visible bits first, then try to get the back stuff. The tinting brush is ideal to reach the hair, separate sections and get a good line round the ears etc.

I never overlay the dye, as with browns you will over time just overdo the dye and end up with blackish colour. I take it through to the ends about 5-10 mins before the end of the time (35 I think). Sometimes I don't though.

You can also keep and wash the nozzle bottle from a chemists box as you can use that to separate off sections.

From two tubes of Majirel (about 7.99 from Sallys or eBay) and a cheapo bottle of developer I get about 10 root touch ups. The tinting brush, box of latex gloves and bowl cost about 5 pounds.

Otch! Have you had your baby?

I would do the professional dye thing by the way if my local "Sallys" wasn't trade only. In the meantime, I am rather familar with the box dyes!

Let us know how you are Otchayaniye!

Oh thanks Tatty , I'm having her on Tuesday. And going to do my roots beforehand as I won't have a minute for the next few years....

Shame about the Sally's, the ones in London aren't trade only and the company does have a website. Or just try one of the local hair suppliers (there are some sold in the black hair emporiums round near me) or eBay, although you'll need to know your colours.

Well I went for the plunge and bought a clairol nice and easy 'liquid' dye today.

Actually I bought 2 cos it was on offer. I plan to do all thru, cos it will inevitably be a slightly different shade and keepbthe bottle for root touch UPS using the other kit.

Any tips? I have only ever done foam, and have only done it a couple of times. Do I start at the top of the head and clip up as I go? Or do I clip up the dry hair at the top and start at the nape of the neck?

Your advice about the overlay is spot on and probably the biggest single problem for home dyers. Straw-like, darker, or toneless ends.

I have a sallys near me. As a complete novice home sure presumably I would be a fool to mess around with professional stuff?

No, not at all, the stuff is the same as in the box (just better). Creme colourant, developer and gloves. Sally's staff should be able to help you with colours. I say should, as the Streatham one isn't that great.

I find home dye contains too much red for my hair, even ones that claim to be ash brown, and build-up is a real problem. I now only ever do the roots once, in between salon visits, as just can't find the right dye.

My tips: make sure you wear an old t-shirt/coverall when applying or go nuddy, and mop up any spillages straight away. Keep well away from other fabrics or carpet as it's never coming out! Use Vaseline on skin or similar to stop it staining face or neck.

Tbh the creme which they use at salon looks easier to apply than I am.expecting this liquid to be. I wasn't expecting it to be as liquidy as it appears.

And I bet I can find a mner to help is sally's is no good...

Do you have a wide spaced plastic comb with rounded ends? Looks like:

mm

Really helps with application and parting to get to the roots.

Yeah. The ones with a hook on the end for use in the shower? Do you use it in a particular way to help? Or just for parting?

CORRECTION: it is 6 pct, or 20 vol for 50 pct or more grey coverage. Not 9pct as I said up above. I always get that mixed up.

I think I might switch to professional dye soonish. At the moment my greys are fine with Clairol Nice n Easy, but I think this will become less so as they get more stubborn and prolific! I might go to my local Sallys and browse, but then buy online if they can't serve me. I did buy something from there once by using my hairdresser's name - they asked me for it - they seemed to want to sell to me so that was fine. But once you know your colour there's always the website of course...

I use Loreal colour and do roots every 4-5 weeks. It says retouch roots only, leaving colour on for 15 mins, but I apply colour to roots and massage in, leave for 5 mins, then pull colour roughly through rest of the hair and leave for another 10 mins.

I use Garnier a medium brown and touch up roots every four weeks or so. I use plastic measuring spoons and an old plastic bowl, baby toothbrush, strategically placed mirrors -- quite a lot of faffing really, but so cheap and the results look fine. I leave it on for about 25 minutes, then massage just near my scalp and blend a bit through the rest, and rinse. I don't bother spreading it through the rest of my hair too evenly as it's very curly and thick and thus hides a multitude of crimes against hairstyling.